Shafaq News/ In their second conference on Wednesday, Iraq's provincial council leaders called for the adoption of recommendations recently issued by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the country’s leading Shia cleric, suggesting these be used as a strategic roadmap for Iraq’s governance.

Held in the holy city of Karbala, the conference gathered council heads from Iraq’s provinces that are not organized in a region, along with Ahmed al-Fatlawi, the General Coordinator for Provincial Affairs. Participants emphasized the importance of such conferences in "unifying approaches to collaboration with both Parliament and the federal government to develop comprehensive solutions that serve Iraq’s interests."

The conference issued several key recommendations, notably considering Ayatollah's recommendations issued following his meeting with the UN Secretary-General's representative in Iraq, Mohammed al-Hassan as a roadmap.

Al-Sistani's recent guidance included seven stability factors for Iraq, stressing the importance of national unity, resistance to foreign interference, and restricting arms to state control as part of Iraq's path toward stability and prosperity. His influence as a spiritual leader has been a steadying force for Iraq, with his moral authority shaping the country's democratic principles since the U.S. invasion in 2003.

they also “stressed the urgency of passing or amending the current Provincial Law to expand administrative and financial powers in line with local governance principles.”

The statement concluded with a call for “increased provincial budget support to better meet citizens’ essential service needs.” Attendees underscored the importance of political stability at the local level as a prerequisite for effective governance, urging political blocs to prioritize this objective for the welfare of Iraq’s citizens.